Freeman hanson



(No Model.)

F. HANSON.

FOLDING WASH BENCH. No. 324,320. Patented Aug. 11, 1885.,

UlliTTge- N. PETERS. Phum-Lkhn nbher, Washington. D, c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FREEMAN HANSON, OE BAR MILLS, MAINE,ASSIGNOR TO JAMES WV. MESERVE AND GEORGE W. HANSON, OF SAME PLACE.

FOLDING WASH-BENCH.

SPECIFICATION forrning part of Letters Patent No. 324,320, dated August11, 1885.

Application filed January 3, 1885. (No model.)

To allwhomjt may concern.-

Be it known that I, FREEMAN HANSON, a citizen of the UnitedStates,-residing at Bar Mills, in the county ofYork and State of Maine,

have invented certain new and useful Improvements in FoldingXVash-Ben'ches, of which the following is a specification, referencebeing had therein to the accompanying drawings.

Figure l-is a perspective view of the bench 1o inverted, with the legsextended and braced. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical central sectionof the bench, showing the legs and their braces. Fig. 3 is a bottom planView of the bench,

- showing the legs and braces folded and bench partly folded. Fig. 4c isa perspective view of the box form of the device when entirely folded.

This invention relates to folding benches or supports which areespecially designed for supporting wash-tubs; and it consists in a benchhaving folding box-top in combination with hinged legs, stops, andbraces therefor, and cleat and button fastenings for firmly holding thelegs in an extended position and allowing the same to be folded andinclosed inside of the folding box-top when-it is desired to stow thebench away, all of which will be fully understood from the followingdescription, when taken in connection with the annexed drawingS.

. The top of the bench, table, or stand is composed of two box halves orsections, A A,

which are connected together by means of hinges A A, that allow thesections to be folded, as shown in Fig. 3. Each section A is constructedwith side strips, a a, and end strips, a a, which latter serve asbattens to prevent the boards from warping, and with the side stripsform boxes for inclosing the 0 legs and their braces when the sectionsare folded one upon the other. The legs B B are formed on or secured toheadsB B, which are allowed to fold within the side and end strips oftheir respective top sections, A A. The 5 heads of the legs areconstructed with side offsets, b b, which receive pivotsb b,that hingethe legs to the side strips, a a. The pivots b b are so located thatwhen the legs are extended the upper portions of their heads abutagainstthe end strips or battens, a a, as shown in Fig. 1, therebypreventing the legs from spreading too far.

O O designate braces, each one of which is composed of two side barsconnected together by a cross-bar, 0. These braces are pivoted tocross-rods c, which pass transversely through the legs B 13, near theheads B B, and serve to strengthen these legs.

D D designate short cleats, which are secured to the bottom sides of thebench-tops A A and 6 undercut, as shown at d d, for the purpose ofreceiving the cross-rods c e of the braces O 0, when the legs of thebench are extended, and preventing outward thrust of these legs. \Vh enthe rods 0' c of the braces are adjusted against 6 5 the cleats D D andlocking-buttonsE E are turned over the latter, the braces and thebench-legs will be rigidly held in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 4,and the bench will afford a substantial support for a wash-tub or otherobject.

' WVhen the legs are unfolded, as shown in Fig. 2, and the buttons E Eare turned over one of the limbs of each brace O, the tops AA will serveas a good ironing-board. When the tops A A are folded together, as shownin Fig. 3, the device will be very compact and portable.

Having described my invention, I claim- A portable bench consisting ofthe folding 8O box-tops A A, folding legs, the abutments a 'a therefor,the folding braces pivoted thereto, the undercut cleats D D, and theturn-buttons E E, all constructed substantially as and for the purposesdescribed. 8

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FREEMAN HANSON.

Witnesses:

JOHN J. PERRY, J. F. MGINTYRE.

